Nicholas Petrie Books In Order
Book links take you to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn money from qualifying purchases.Publication Order of Peter Ash Books
| The Drifter | (2016) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Burning Bright | (2017) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Light It Up | (2018) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Tear It Down | (2019) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| The Wild One | (2020) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| The Breaker | (2021) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| The Runaway | (2022) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| The Price You Pay / The Heavy Lift | (2024) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Author Nicholas Petrie is a crime suspense thriller writer who has previously worked as a building inspector, a remodeling contractor, and carpenter. Petrie, besides writing fiction, still inspects homes. He got his MFA in fiction from University of Washington. Petrie is both a husband and a father and lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His first break as a writer came in high school, after enjoying reading books for a long time. It started with him working on the school’s newspaper. And by the time he was a senior, he was writing a sarcastic soap opera that had eight parts and was set in the halls of the school.
His first novel, “The Drifter” was nominated for an Edgar and a Barry for best first novel, and a Hammett Prize for Best Novel. His story called “At the Laundromat” won the Short Story Contest in The Seattle Review (which is a national literary journal). He was given a Hopwood Award for short fiction while at the University of Michigan as an undergrad. Despite being the fourth novel Petrie wrote, “The Drifter” was the first that he got published.
The first novel he wrote starred a roofer from Wisconsin that was having family problems; he wrote the short book in his twenties. The first three failed to get published, with each one getting closer and closer to getting published. The first one failed to get him a literary agent to represent him. The second, the agent he did find, could not find a home for the book. And by the third, most publishing houses were not buying new books (due to the economic crash that happened in 2008).
This made him quit writing for some time, he remodeled his kitchen and sulked some. And then his wife told him he is a bit of a pain in the butt to be around when he is not writing anything. While he wrote the book, a lot of the economic problems and veterans coming back from the war swirled around in his head. It was here that he started to put this into the novel that he started working on.
The novel came to life, he says while he was researching the book by talking to veterans; he got to see both the challenges that they had faced and were continuing to face years later. A hot shot agent (that he contacted with his third novel) remembered who he was and brought the book to an editor at Putnam. Both the agent and editor loved the book, the latter championing it. “The Drifter” is the first novel in the “Peter Ash” series and was released in the year 2016.
Peter Ash came back from the wars in both Afghanistan and Iraq with only one thing for his trouble (something that he calls “white static”, a buzzing claustrophobia). It is because of the static that he roams in nature and sleeps beneath the stars for a year. Peter returns to civilization, after a Marine buddy kills himself, to help the man’s widow fix up her house. He finds a very mean and ugly and large dog under the ruined porch.
Not to mention, a suitcase full of cash and explosives. He finds himself at the center of a large plot, as he looks into things. It is a lot bigger than he ever thought it could be, and it might take him back to the place that he thought he had left a long long time ago. Fans of the novel found that there is quite a bit of suspense and thrills to be had, and it has a compelling hero from a fresh voice in the genre of crime fiction.
The characters here are great, and the story hangs together all the way through the novel. There are some little things that Petrie built into the story that really added to things, making the novel feel even more real. Even Lee Child (who writes the “Jack Reacher” series) has praised the book. “Burning Bright” is the second novel in the “Peter Ash” series and was released in the year 2017. Peter Ash was looking for quiet and peace in the redwoods of northern California.
Things are not as he wanted them to be, and do not balm his wounds much. Dense forest, close fog make his claustrophobia to act up on him, and finds a grizzly that was supposed to have left this part of the country. He does not like his odds in the fight, so he makes his way up a tree. Peter sees something very strange, a climbing rope, and this rope leads to some more; these end at a hanging platform. On said platform, he sees a woman who is on the run.
From the men that are shooting at them from down below. Days ago, June Cassidy (who is an investigative journalist) got away from the men, who are still hunting her and kidnapped her. June believes that they are after something that her mother owned. She was a big deal in the software designing business and she died in an accident a short time ago. She needs to figure out what is going on, but for that, she needs time. June also needs someone with Peter’s skills.
They stay one step ahead of these men, and try to put the pieces together as fast as they can. It leads them to a reclusive eccentric, an extraordinary tool that might just change things in the modern world until the end of time, and a pseudo-military organization that is shadowy.
Fans of the novel found that this is another taut plotted, full of action novel. It has well drawn characters. Like Petrie, he is sensitive, loyal and holds true to his word; he will also kick the butts that need to be kicked and take the proper names. There are a lot of details for the reader to process as they read, so get ready to take your imagination on a thrill ride and put it to work. This here novel far exceeded expectations and was better than the first book in this series.
Book Series In Order » Authors »
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After completing the Reacher series was excited to see recommendation for the Peter Ash books authored by Nick Petrie. Started with the drifter and was instantly hooked, just picked up the last 2, The Runaway and The Price You Pay/The Heavy Lift to finish this series and wish there was many more. Recommend this to anyone looking for a Reacher style character
Thanks Brian yeah I love Nick Petrie as he has made life easy for me in terms of a Jack Reacher recommendation 🙂
I loved Jack Reacher and have read every book. I must say the last 3 have been a let down as Lee Child’s brother has become a co-writer. Jack Reacher has become a byline in the series. Then I found Nick Petrie and his character Peter Ash.
Absolutely love Peter Ash. Lots of action and dispenses justice as he sees fit.
Far more like Robert B Parker’s Spenser, than Jack Reacher, I think
I love these books. They come closer to the true lives of a lot of vets returning home. At least in my experience(yes mine was a marine too). For so many there is no “off” button. They have to find release in some physical-mental-philological way. I wish there were helpful good jobs for the vets. But keep up the good work with the books. for those who live with it, it feel less lonely, and others get a look at what its feels like.
I am a great Reacher fan and following your recommendation am busy reading the second Peter Ash book and am loving him. Similar to Reacher but enough differences to make him unique.
Great to hear Richard and I agree whole-heartedly. There are a lot of books featuring characters who they just come off a copycat. But there is something about that series where it just doesn’t feel that way at all.
Loved all the books. The characters caught me up and wouldn’t let go. Sorry there are no more in the series.
Great Books. Akin to the Jack Reacher series. Keep writing.
I’m 150 pages into The Drifter and am hooked! Growing up in Milwaukee makes it more interesting. Excellent writing and i look forward to reading all of the other Petrie books. Thanks.
I have read Jack Reacher and enjoyed the character. Mr. Petrie’s Peter Ash is a straight forward go getter without all of the estraneous retoric. Thanks.
Huge Mystery/Thriller fan. Just discovered Petrie, Like him better than Child. Love the West Coast, PNW and Seatlle/Portland/Ashland locales. Got all the titles now and intend to read them all!
Great to hear 🙂
Hi, I had you asked previously about reading the Peter Ash series in publication order when compared to Bernie Gunther. I received your reply and indeed it should be read in order of publication. (I still personally think, after my false start that Gunther is best read chronologically and have after four in publication order I have started again with Metropolis. The late Philip Kerr’s series is one of my best ever. Such a clever author). Regarding Nicholas Petrie, I think the best action series since Reacher. Similar slant, the good guys doing things their own way but with Peter Ash a troubled Vet, very different to Reacher. Also enjoy his friend Lewis and the family relationships. Compulsive and very good light reading. So thanks very much for your advice. Alan
You’re welcome Alan 🙂 And thanks very much for the feedback on Gunther. That is much appreciated.
Brilliant books! Lots of action, like Jack Reacher, but then again, different. Well written, keeps one locked in to the story – and all very relevant, No padding like some stories. Thank you for introducing them to me. Marie
You are welcome 🙂
Am great Reacher fan but the last couple of books have been very disappointing. Over the moon about Peter Ash. Have read all the books and can’t wait for the next one. Petrie is fantastic! Margaret